Blog:Features

Birmingham might be known as The Second City, but there’s no doubt that the crowds at Hospitality Birmingham have been some of the best we have ever seen.

Fred V & Grafix are jumping back on the decks with Hospital’s golden boy Danny Byrd spinnin’ an exclusive jungle set. We have to make the effort if we are coming all the way to Brum, so we thought a never before seen Logistics b2b Etherwood could suffice! Off the back of his killer debut Hospital LP ‘Salvation’, Makoto will be gracing your eardrums with some of the silkiest liquid beats from a back catalogue of tunes from the last 20 years.

Finishing off this killer line up in the Warehouse of Rainbow is Krakota, a man that needs no introduction. Finally, it wouldn’t be Hospitality Birmingham without some huge special guests; let’s not beat around the bush, we’ve pulled out all the stops. Bristol badboy TC brings the D+B knowhow, whilst hype surrounding Critical Sound’s 15th year follows them to Brum, and label boss Kasra is bringing none other than Mefjus & Halogenix for a cheeky bit of deep and murky D+B.

Music aside, we are in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country. Make the most of a trip to the Brummie: start with the tunes, get a slice of munch, and finish with a nice dose of culture. Here’s what’s on offer…

The Rainbow Venues: This has to be one of my favourite clubs in the country. The crème de la crème of clubs in the midlands, the production team really haven’t held back on creating one of the best atmospheres around. They really don’t hold back on Room Two either, big capacities, big bass and intense lighting will tingle at least three of your senses to the max. There’s no finer place to show off what Hospital have to offer.

Things to do/places to eat: I’m joining these two together for this blog, as there is only one place you have to get yourself to… the Birmingham Canal Network. You have a plentiful selection of chain and independent eateries, and countless amount of chic or cheaper bars to either pre-drink or attempt a hair of the dog cure the night after. This is the place to be for some bangin’ food to soothe the hangover. Accompany that with a gentle stroll and cheeky bev by the picture-esque canals, it might just be that bit of relaxation you need. If you’re here for the whole weekend, check out the Jekyll & Hyde gin bar for copious amounts of gin-based food and cocktails creations.

Where to stay: You won’t need to fork out for Taxis if you stay at Birmingham Central Backpacker’s, it’s just an 8-min walk away from Rainbow Venues. It’s also equidistant to the centre so you can save those precious pennies for some bevs in the venue. Plus, there’s a free light breakfast, free tea & coffee and free Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the rooms aren’t free as well, but for a minimum two-night stay, it’ll only set you back £30-40 if you’re on a budget.

See, what’s not to love. Fully fledged D+B flavours from our dear friends and exalted guests in one of the greatest cites the nation has to offer. Come for the music, stay for the Hospitality.

Sounds like every D+B fans’ dream right? Well we’re bringing that dream to life at Hospitality In The Park. For the first time, we are calling all bedroom DJs venturing to North London, to take yourself away from your routine mixing habitat and jump on the Cuckoo’s Nest stage.

Bring a USB for a killer clash in amateur D+B mastery to see who can get the biggest hype, the most reloads and loudest screams of appreciation. You’d be stupid to not come down and show off your undocumented talents to the masses for battles that could go down in Park history.

There’s no criteria on what tunes you can spin, but as you will be battling against not just your mates but other D+B heads who are out to win, we’re looking for you to come correct and bring the best of the best! Seeing as this is the festival for the D+B inclined, we know that the standard of tunes will be high. Whilst some challengers will fall, those who do prevail will be covered in glory in front of a dedicated crowd of true music lovers.

Just make sure that you’ve loaded some deadly, high quality tunes and your mixing skills are finely tuned and ready to pack a punch. Let the games begin!

Any visitor to London has to spend at least one night boogying down at the iconic Fabric nightclub. To revel in the recent salvation of Fabric from the brink of permanent closure by the powers above, we couldn’t think of anyone better to host a stage at one of the nations biggest parties. Helping us to celebrate such an iconic club, are some of the finest underground music artists, many of whom have been blessed enough to release a legendary FABRICLIVE compilation. Welcome back, FABRICLIVE.

Now we’ve listened to what you had to say last year and we know that sound quality is a huge part of the whole festival experience. Taking that on board, We’ve implemented special measures, and Fabric will now be bringing their room two Pioneer Pro Audio sound system for a bass overload that will make the FABRICLIVE stage naughtier than Theresa May running through a field of wheat.

My Nu Leng & Dread MC

The duo behind FABRICLIVE.86 and another Bristolian pairing smashing the underground scene not just in the UK but worldwide. Drawing influences from across the electronic music spectrum it is hard to pinpoint their sound to a specific genre, so expect a diverse set but guarantees of heavy drops and huge bass. Dread MC joins the pair onstage and having experienced their previous sets together, it will definitely be one of the parties of the summer.

The Return of Clipz

Hospital are thrilled to announce that the legendary Clipz will be returning for Hospitality in the Park. Having found commercial success under alias Redlight, Clipz is going back to his DnB and jungle roots to help us celebrate this year’s Hospitality in the Park. This set will be only one of two appearances for Clipz this summer, so this is one not to be missed.

Benton

When I think of Benton, I can think of no better person who fits the dark and minimal 140 sound. High profile releases on Loefah’s Swamp81 label, travel to any city with a thriving underground music scene and his name will definitely pop up on a flyer somewhere.

Calibre & DRS

A drum & bass legend straight outta Belfast and curator of FABRICLIVE.68, Calibre has been a key player in the scene for over 20 years now. His own Signature Recordings has released some of the finest DnB, complete with beautiful melodic patterns and an unmistakeable sound. No doubt he is one of the biggest names in drum and bass. Jumping on stage with Calibre is one of our favourite MCs: DRS. You will not be disappointed.

Caspa

One of dubstep’s biggest names, who could ever forget his remix of TC’s Where’s My Money? King of the wobble and FABRICLIVE.37 representative Caspa is making his Hospitality in the Park debut this year. Having had a high-flying career touring all corners of the world and having music featured on Hollywood blockbusters and remixing everyone from Depeche Mode to Deadmau5 and Ludacris, he comes back to his hometown of London for what will be a set to cherish on the FABRICLIVE stage.

Chimpo b2b Sam Binga featuring Trigga

Famous for his part in Manchester crew Levelz and unmistakeable voice, Chimpo heading behind the decks to be joined by top-knot sporting Bristol DJ Sam Binga. Trigga MC will be taking to the stage for a set that is sure to be packed to the brim with bouncey bass-heavy half-time.

Critical Soundsystem Presents: Mefjus, Kasra & Mantmast

Having smashed their set last year with Emperor, Critical boss and FABRICLIVE.62 selector Kasra is joined yet again by Austrian neuro heavyweight and my personal favourite Mefjus, for what will certainly be one of the heaviest sets at the park this year. These two neuro icons take to the FABRICLIVE stage having just released their Decyfer / Conversion EP together.

Skepsis

Undoubtedly the new face of the UK bass scene. Skepsis has helped revitalise bassline music in recent months and let’s be honest, he will be one of the filthiest acts you will see all day. At only 21, this is a DJ at just the start of his career and with support from the likes of Rinse FM, is destined for great things.

FABRICLIVE Residents:

Blazey Bodynod

Our first FABRICLIVE resident is big name around Bristol, Blazey Bodynod. A true pioneer of bass music in the South West’s biggest city and one of the most respected promoters on the circuit, anyone whose been to a Bodynod show knows the score.

Skankandbass

With well over 60,000 subscribers on YouTube and a dedicated following on social media where he routinely promotes the best new DnB, Skankandbass is the second resident of our FABRICLIVE stage. He’s got some special stuff in store for the Park believe us…

It’s without a doubt that every single one of this exalted figures of bass music will be bringing the fire to the FABRICLIVE stage, and with a huge Pioneer sound system, what more could you ask for. So if you haven’t got one already, grab yourself a ticket so you don’t suffer severe FOMO.

We at Hospital Records recognise the importance of bridging gaps between music. This year at Hospitality in the Park we are delighted to announce a brand new stage, Deep Medi vs Roots of Jungle. We will be welcoming Mala’s Deep Medi Musik to the Park to bring the best in 140 beats, and having celebrated their 10th anniversary last year, I’m sure it will be one heck of a party. Alongside them, a few well-known faces from the roots of jungle music will be taking to the stage, all of which have over 20 years producing and DJing jungle music for the masses.

Mala:

Where would dubstep be without Mala? The big boss of Deep Medi has been one of the most influential artists ever in the UK underground scene. As one half of Digital Mystikz (DMZ) alongside Coki, Mala has been banging out tune after tune since the early days of dubstep and has access to one of the most extensive back catalogues in dubstep. Even if you aren’t big into your 140 music, this is a legend not to miss.

A/T/O/S:

A/T/O/S have released two killer albums now on Deep Medi, the most recent Outboxed being released in February to very high acclaim. Beautifully blending soulful vocals with minimalistic yet masterful production, the duo could draw comparisons to Submotion Orchestra but with their own unique flavour.

Benny Ill:

One of the faces of Horsepower Productions, Benny Ill has been involved in the dubstep music scene since its beginnings. With multiple releases on Deep Medi as well as heavyweight label Tempa, Benny will be bringing his extensive experience and knowhow to the Deep Medi vs Roots of Jungle stage.

Compa:

A perfect mix between grime and dubstep. If you haven’t heard Compa’s newest single No Hype with Footsie of Newham Generals, the link is below and is a must listen. Early on, his drum and bass roots quickly lent to the discovery of dubstep where he has been making waves ever since. He joins us at Hospitality in the Park, having been touring North America and Europe over the summer to packed shows.

Jack Sparrow:

The act I’m most excited to see. Following numerous releases on Deep Medi and Tectonic, Leeds resident Jack Sparrow comes to Hospitality in the Park having recently started his own label Navy Cut. For years, he has been one of the most featured names in dubstep and has a yearly residency at Outlook Festival, where he is able to show off his own unique flavour on dubstep.

Kahn & Neek:

Bristol’s finest underground musicians. Every EP released under their Bandulu label is hot property, selling out in minutes and for good reason. The duo combine a variety of styles over the 140 spectrum, producing grime, dubstep and under their Gorgon Sound alias, strictly dubplate and vinyl dub and soundsytem music.

Kaiju:

The duo have been big names in the dubstep game for some time now. Their bass-heavy track Justice has undoubtedly been played at every underground dancefloor around the country, propelling them into the spotlight of 140 music. It’s fair to say these two love a sub-bass, and for good reason!

Kenny Ken b2b Randall feat. MC Det:

Names that need no introduction, two of the most iconic artists in the history of jungle and drum & bass will be gracing the Deep Medi vs Roots of Jungle stage, joined by the legend that is MC Det. Kenny Ken and Randall have over 50 years between them spent in the industry, and are for sure some of the most influential DJs at this year’s festival.

Remarc & Navigator:

We are excited to bring ‘King of the Amen’ Remarc alongside old school junglist Navigator to the park, for what will definitely be a showcase in the true zest of jungle music. There is no doubt that you will hear the best in jungle music with these two.

Silkie:

One of London’s finest dubstep DJs who has been part of the Deep Medi crew for some time, giving a colourful taste of dubstep to the label’s back catalogue. Silkie is a true representation of what the dubstep sound of London really is.

Sir Spyro b2b Spooky & Killa P:

If you haven’t head Sir Spyro’s release Topper Top with Killa P released on Deep Medi Musik last year, then where have you been? Undoubtedly THE grime/dubstep track of the last year it has been spun round more times than Kylie Minogue and which has bridged the gap beautifully between the two genres. Joining Sir Spyro on stage is the underground legend that is Spooky, one of the most important faces and best producers in the grime scene.

Swindle:

Swindle has to be one of the most creative and masterful producers of our generation, dabbling in the world of funk, dubstep and electronica to name a few. His experimental sound has led to attention from all corners of the world, making his name one of the most recognisable in the underground circuit.

In short, the fine folks ready to come and unleash hell on the Deep Medi Vs Roots of Jungle stage are nothing short of legendary. To make sure you witness the sickness and feel the pressure you’re gonna have to come along to Hospitality In The Park. Ticket’s are rolling out the door like there’s no tomorrow so be quick!

Music is a long game. Honing your sound, perfecting your performance and reaching your audience all take monumental levels of dedication, hard work and of course skill (a bit of luck always helps too). We at Hospital recognize how important it is to nurture the next generation of artists, whether they be fledgling DJs, or, established producers who haven’t quite got the hype they deserve. To combat these concerns we have created a stage for these budding artists to take flight. I am, of course, talking about ‘The Incubator’. Aptly named, this stage was designed to provide talented artists a platform to earn greater recognition. Names for the headz today, but the headliners of tomorrow.

ATYK

The first fine fellas featuring on our list of premium future D+B real estate (In A-Z order) is ATYK. Picked up by MTA their diverse blend of Breaks, Grime and Trap sees them heralded as a true potential pioneer of a new sound. With singles on MTA and Skankandbass, the future is exciting for this duo.

GLXY

GLXY have been making some excellent movements in the last 18 months. With tracks racking up some serious hits on channels like UKF, Drum & Bass Arena and Liquicity, their blend of soulful and deep D+B has seen them heralded as some of the most exciting new prospects. We look forward to hearing more.

In:Most

Rolling on through is In:Most, Soulvent records newest protege. This is your trademark Liquid artist. Hailing from Cambridge, these guys have collaborated with fellow Cambridge man Logistics and have seen their tracks premiered on Ninja Ninja and Drum & Bass Arena. With the future looking bright, we await with keen anticipation to see how they shut down the Incubator stage this year.

Unglued

Now few represent the Incubator as well as Unglued Since earning his place on the Incubator line-up, this Brighton-based production wizard has shocked clubs and across the globe with his selection of dangerous dubplates. Going straight to the top, this one’s premium D+B real estate.

Kyrist

Next up is one of the most exciting new producers on the scene. With releases on Dispatch, Addictive Behaviour and more to come, Kyrist has been a breath of fresh air in the Tech D+B scene, and repping it for the galdem too! One of my personal favorites on this list, we expect nothing but great things to happen under the Kyrist banner.

Lurch

One of the most diverse producers on our list is Lurch. A versatile range of musical stylings encompass from up front, rollers and liquid, he manages to merge his sounds into different areas without compromising his own production identity, something to be proud of so big up yourself Lurch. Releases on Liquid V, Soul Deep, Intrigue and Flexout, there’s not much this guy can’t do.

Matti Limitless

The following chap knows no limits, you could, in fact, say he is limitless. A man with no boundaries, Matti Limitless is the head honcho of Limitless Recordings and the man behind the monolith musical channel ‘Liquid Musick’. Having cemented himself as an exquisite DJ warming up for London Elektricity at Hospitality In The Dock, we look forward to seeing how he brings the vibes come September 23rd.

Soul Motion & Colossus

Fellow Limitless Recordings artists ‘Soul Motion & Colossus’ will be joining their label honcho at the Incubator stage this year. Known for their soulfully elegant sounds, they manage to manifest a classic sound with contemporary fusion that gives them a unique identity, although separate producers, they often join forces, and we are very glad they do.

Submorphics

Submorphics is one of the most established artists in the Incubator stage. Hailing all the way from the US, and able to boast releases on SGN:LTD, Metalheadz and Liquid V, his groovy basslines and rolling drums will keep any D+B purist well and truly satisfied. You know when Calibre remixes your music that you’re doing a pretty bang up job…

T>I

Last, but certainly not least is new badman on the block T>I. With releases on Serial Killaz, Natty Dub, Murky Digital, Yard Rock, Boom Sound AND his keenly anticipated single ‘All I Do’ forthcoming on Randalls very own Mac II digital, this is one of the hottest prospects in the D+B world at the moment. Having his tracks supported by Randall, Kings Of The Rollers, Serial Killaz and other titans of the game, it’s no wonder this man has been selected for incubation, as he is ready to blow.

And there you have it. A comprehensive account of all the young guns ready to unload their weapons at this years Hospitality In The Park. Witness the bigness that is soon to come from all these talented people.

The combination of food and music that is so revered by us good guys & gals at Hospital is well documented. With a history of BBQ events and a keen eye for nothing but the finest of foods, this policy is being put into overdrive for Hospitality In The Park with a record breaking 12 different street food vendors.

As commissar of cuisine, it is with great honour, and with a growling gut, that I outline the multitudinous menus that will be on offer come September the 23rd. The first 4 have already been discussed in great detail and if you missed out you can read about them here. But if you’re up to date, then prepare to chow down on some serious knowledge. Reading on empty stomachs is ill advised.

DOSA DELI

The fact a foreign food can be lauded as Britains national dish is a testimony to the quality of Indian dining. Although skipping the Curry this time around, the good folks at Dosa Deli peddle nothing but the finest South-Indian street food. Priding themselves on pushing grub that is healthy, affordable and homemade, they seek to highlight that (without being vegetarians themselves) you don’t always need meat to have a mouth-watering dish for the ages.

For those who may be unaware, the ‘Dosa’, is the Indian take on the crepe. Native to South-India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, these rice and lentil filled crispy pancakes are as delicious are they are simple. However, at Dosa Deli, they have knocked it up another notch. The two staple Dosa you can expect to gorge yourself on will be the ‘Chilli Cheese Dosa Wrap’ – stuffed with Paneer cheese, tomato & roasted channa dhal chutney, fresh red onions and tamarind apple and date chutney. Woi. Following suit but this time Vegan friendly, is the ‘Mysore Masala Dosa Wrap’. Consisting of a stuffed dosa with potato masala, garlic peanut and chilli crumble and fresh red onions. Woi-oi-oi.

Healthy, hearty and guilt-free. This is the way to do Indian street food.

THE CHEESE TRUCK

We in the UK love our cheese. We may not quite have the precision of Parisians or the instinct of Italian cheese makers, our love is arguably more so in the form of appreciation over creation. However, these guys are the exception to the rule. With cheese festivals and markets as a staple in the capital and beyond (we even roll cheese down hills in the more remote regions of England) it is no wonder that some dairy delectation is on the cards.

As one of the youngest amongst our vendors at only 3 years old, the Cheese Truck has cemented itself as the finest dairy distributor in the game. Within 2 years it is estimated a total twenty tonnes of cheese has been shifted, constituting over 100,000 grilled cheese sandwiches. Dairy I guess how many more will be sold? Now, as cheesey as that pun was, it pales in comparison to the rich, creamy, cheesy goodness dished out by these smooth operators.

From Glastonbury to Dubai, the Cheese Truck is dedicated to distributing nothing but the best of British cheese, working closely with traditional and thoughtful farms to provide nothing but the finest Britain has to offer in the ever expanding world of cheese. Far from your standard cheese toasties, you can expect fantastic fillings such as ‘Keens Cheddar, Ogleshield & Onion’ (with option of Bacon), ‘Cropwell Bishop Stilton, Bacon & Pear Chutney’ (I do say), ‘Rosary Goats Cheese, Honey, Walnut & Rosemary Butter (Oosh) and ‘Queso Chihuahua Cheese, Spicy Chorizo & Rocket’ (Ay Chihuahua!).

The salivation is strong with this one.

EARLS

A repeat offender at Hospital shows now. When a festival sandwich is hailed by Foreign Beggars and London Elektricity as one of the best cheese-steaks they’ve ever had, you know you’re in for one hell of a treat. Formed by a student of Jamie Oliver’s cooking school, this saucy sandwichery is focused on fusion and freshness. Combining classical dishes with contemporary flair, expect heaven in an artisan bun.

Now aside from sanctified sandwiches, they also deliver chicken wings that are so devilishly delicious, they have been entered into the UKs annual best chicken wing competition. The description by Dub Phizix’s hypeman of choice Strategy as ‘A slap in the face that comes from a place of preparation and love’ is, we believe, very high praise when it comes to hot wings. Nobody wants a plain wing, and everyone wants to feel loved. At Earls, you get it all.

With other food creations such as the ‘Kim Wrong Un’, ‘Ho Chi Mi’, ‘Erdogant do Meat’ and the classic ‘Hoxton Cheesesteak’, the creative pizzazz is matched only by the culinary excellence that is imposed by every member of the Earls family. My dream is an Earls on every corner and a sandwich for every child. Viva La Cheesesteak.

LE BUN

Firing out fusion on all cylinders yet again, this time we have the French-American burger behemoths that are ‘Le Bun’. Coming to the conclusion that French and American cuisine wasn’t as different than originally assumed, Andy Taylor and Tim Talbot joined forces and were swiftly picked up by the Times, Channel 4 and Sky 1 for their refreshing and exciting take on classic American dishes. Time Out deemed them as ‘Londons best street food traders’, Buzzfeed decreed them as the ‘Best burger in London’ and they were hailed as the ‘best truffle dish’ in London by the Evening Standard.

High praise, I am sure you will all agree. But what is it exactly that makes this burger joint so special. I mean, how exotic a burger can one create? A question, that Le Bun, has put to rest permanently.

The menu is so extensive and so opulent that it was incredibly difficult to choose those two items to hype up, so why not just look at the entire menu here. I am making it my personal objective to try everything on the menu at least once or die trying. A noble cause if there ever was one.

And there you have it. Dinner is served. A multi-dimensional dining bonanza fit for the gods. The perfect accoutrement to the spectacular set of artists and DJs poised to play this years HITP, it is beyond all shadow of a doubt. So why not treat yourself to some of the finest music and food the nation has to offer and come down to Finsbury Park on September 23rd.

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About Hospitality

Hospitality is the worldwide club event of top UK D+B imprint Hospital Records. From humble beginnings Hospitality has grown to become a true titan of the scene, known for it’s feel good music policy, showstopping DJs and a friendly, up for it crowd. Read more >